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Read Real Antidepressant Birth Defects Stories

When Miranda was nine months old, she was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia, two serious heart defects that considerably limited the amount of oxygen in her blood. Miranda’s mother took Lexapro (escitalopram) during the first few months of her pregnancy. She was not aware that taking the SSRI antidepressant could potentially adversely affect her unborn child.

Adrian’s mother was just a few weeks away from delivering her baby when she went in for a routine ultrasound. What the doctors discovered, would change her life forever. Her unborn son, Adrian, had a life-threatening congenital heart defect. The doctors said that Adrian had a large hole in the center of his heart. Adrian’s parents spent the next few weeks hoping and praying that their son would be able to survive once he was born.

During the first few weeks after Peyton’s birth, Peyton and her mother had to return to the doctor several times because Peyton was suffering from constant flu symptoms that wouldn’t go away. They were continuously sent home by doctors who assured her mother that she was okay. When Peyton was eight weeks old, on her mother’s insistence, an echocardiogram was performed. The results of this exam showed that Peyton was, in fact, far from okay.

Aaron was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Tetralogy of Fallot. At six days-old he had his first open heart surgery. Since then he has had multiple surgeries and he must get a new heart and kidneys in order to survive.

When Terry Bowers went in for her routine 24-week ultrasound, she was not expecting bad news. She was pregnant with her first child Emerson, a baby boy. Bowers recalls, “The ultrasound technician scanned his body and then she went over his heart, finally she returned with the doctor and I started crying.” Her OB/Gyn then advised her and her husband Craig to see a cardiologist because something was wrong with the baby’s heart.

Jenna Blaine took an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressant during her pregnancy. The label did not properly warn against taking it during pregnancy and the manufacturer assured it was safe. Late summer that same year, Jenna’s son, Nicholas, with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN). Less than seven weeks later, he passed away.

When Jennifer Dumont was born, everything seemed normal. Her mother, Laura, had no reason to worry. She had done everything right during her pregnancy. She had no way of knowing that her beautiful baby girl would undergo open-heart surgery before she reached her first birthday, and would spend much of her infant life in and out of hospitals.

Christian Delahunty wanted to have another baby. She asked her doctor whether or not she should stop taking Effexor. He told her that there were no studies proving that Effexor is transferred to the baby in utero or via breast milk. Christian continued taking Effexor during her pregnancy. At birth, Indiana had trouble breathing, and wouldn’t cry. She was only six weeks old when she died.

Moments after Addison Curlette was born, her little body began turning gray. What should have been a moment of celebration quickly turned into one of panic. Addison was rushed to a specialist who diagnosed the newborn with a congenital heart defect called Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (TAPVR).

Nancy Brown was born to a room full of doctors prepared to save her fragile life. She had been diagnosed before birth with a severe heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which means that the left side of her heart was completely underdeveloped. Despite their best efforts, and an emergency open-heart surgery performed just hours after her birth, doctors were unable to save Nancy’s life. Nancy passed away when she was just five days old.

Before Ariel Klein was born, doctors told her parents there was something wrong with her developing heart. On the day she was born, she was not breathing properly and doctors detected a heart murmur. Hours after her birth doctors diagnosed Ariel with pulmonary valve stenosis, a serious birth defect that would require her to stay in a neonatal intensive care unit, or NCIU, for several weeks.

When Robyn learned that Effexor and other SNRI and SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants were linked to birth defects, she felt betrayed. Like many other mothers that took Effexor while pregnant, Robyn was made to believe that taking the antidepressant was safe for her and her baby. What Robyn and other pregnant mothers didn’t know is that Effexor has been linked to birth defects.

When Penelope Gallow was pregnant, doctors noticed that her unborn child’s heart was not developing normally. Before her baby was born they had detected a hole in his heart as well as an absent pulmonary valve.

Jillian Baker was born a full term baby. Doctors at the hospital where Jillian was born had detected what was initially thought to be just a heart murmur, but Jillian’s newborn heart was under a great deal of additional stress. What should have been the happiest time of her parents’ lives quickly turned into their worst nightmare.

When Eric Summers was born, doctors detected a strong heart murmur. This came as a shock to his parents who were expecting a healthy baby boy. Despite the murmur, the doctor allowed Eric’s parents to take him home. Shortly after his release, however, he had to go back to the hospital.

Antidepressants Birth Defects Case Results

The following testimonials or endorsements do not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

Most of us go through life not knowing the challenges that other families face. For instance, having a daughter with several birth defects is mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. Society has judged our family because of her disabilities instead of sympathizing the challenges we face daily. It wasn’t until we found Baum Hedlund Law Firm and Robinson, Calcagnie & Robinson that we realized our voice would be heard.

They started representing us in 2006. Danielle English was our paralegal. Looking back through the years I couldn’t calculate the number of hours the two of us spent on the phone devoted to the case. Jennifer Liakos was one of the attorneys who represented us. She advised us through the entire process.

The law firm has been professional and compassionate in every aspect of our case. Whenever we had questions they provided us with an answer. Although the law firm represents hundreds or thousands of individuals, I always felt the small town feeling. Where everyone knows your name and every detail of your life. If you find yourself reading this, because you’re looking for representation, then look no further than Baum Hedlund Law Firm or Robinson, Calcagnie & Robinson and their team of professionals. J.H.

Jennifer and Danielle, I wanted to say “thank you” to both of you. There isn’t much more I can muster right now—-everything seems so surreal. Although our journey/fight together is winding down, y’all will never get rid of me. You are forever a part of our family and support system. Thank you for choosing to be a part of our miracle. Y’all are two of the strongest, most dedicated, big-hearted people I know. Thank you. L.L

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